It seems we are all in the dark as to how the Mets are going to spend their money this off-season. One day, we are major players for Roy Halladay and John Lackey, the next we are limited to spending only $20 mill. If there is anything evident about what’s going on behind closed doors in the Mets front offices, it’s that indeed nothing is evident at all. The general uncertainty of the Met strategy so far has led me to really start considering that the organization may not be thrilled with what’s on the market right now, and they are content to possibly wait another year to really make a splash in the free agent pool. This sound familiar Knick fans?Â
Have the Mets resorted to a NY Knick-like strategy in that they will try to cut a rich contract or two (Castillo), patch up a few holes with mediocre talent and wait for a few big names to become available next year? Let’s weigh the advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
- Jason Bay and Matt Holliday might not be worth the $100 mill+  multi year contracts they look to be on the verge of receiving. Let’s face it, there is a lot of room out there in the outfield of Citifield, and neither of these outfielders are known for their leather. And, after watching Gary Sheffield, Daniel Murphy, Angel Pagan, Jeremy Reed and whoever else they brought in to patrol the outfield the last 2 years I think Met fans all agree on the worth of a strong defense. Let’s also consider that Bay is far from a .300 hitter and Holliday has not proven he can hit without the help of thin Colorado air.Â
- John Lackey hasnt won more than 12 games since ’07 and has only won more than 15 once. Since his rookie year when the Angels won the World Series in ’02, Lackey has gone 1-4 in the playoffs. Let’s not forget that Lackey has also had an exceptional defense behind him year after year out in Anaheim.Â
- Waiting another year would give our prospects more time to develop whether we are getting them ready for call up or using them as trade bait. Guys like Fernando Martinez and Jonathan Niese who have already had a taste of the big leagues might give us promise for the future.Â
- I realize this could be a long shot, but maybe the organization is trying out Wally Backman in the minors. Maybe we give him a year to prove himself with the same youngsters we may need next year and are able to consider him as  Manuel’s successor.Â
- Finally, just some big names to throw out as to who might be available in 2001: Joe Mauer, Carl Crawford (hard not to love this one), Victor Martinez, Adam Dunn, Josh Beckett, and of course King Albert (wishful thinking).
Disadvantages:
- David Wright, Jose Reyes, Johan Santana, Carlos Beltran…this team is built to win now. Beltran and Santana aren’t getting any younger. Another playoff miss and dare I even say it…but we might hear a few whispers around the clubhouse of these core guys contemplating jumping ship for a better contender. These guys aren’t exactly David Lee, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari. You can afford to wait a year or two when you have young players who are still developing, but we are talking about playes in their prime…some of the best in the game.
- Roy Halladay is an absolute stud. If you are passing on Roy Halladay and your team is in desperate need of starting pitching, then who the hell are you waiting for to become available? Pairing Johan with Halladay has a chance to really be historical.  I can’t imagine any big market team not taking its shot.
- So if we are not major players this year in free agency, then here are the second and third tier guys we are going to look at: Randy Wolf, Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa, Joel Piniero, Marlon Byrd..etc. Wonderful. There is a reason Mark DeRosa has been on 17 different teams in his career. These are guys probably considered solid mid-season pick ups for contending teams. Even without Bay or Holliday as true perennial all-stars, the drop off between them and the alternatives seems drastic.
- Without a real effort to improve the ballclub after a disastrous first year in a brand new ballpark, there will not be many happy Met fans to say the least. If the team underperforms early, it’s quite possible Citifield might have some angry fans, and some empty seats.
Is it possible the Knicks and the Mets have the same strategy this year? I hate to say, any strategy or plan even slightly resembling what is going on in the Garden lately cannot be viewed as a good thing. However, maybe what’s available is not the right fit now.  The Mets may not want to overpay this year simply to bring in new faces. Maybe they see something down the line that we don’t. I hope these guys know what they’re doing, because your guess is as good as mine.
62 comments
CaseStreet
11/23/2009-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
It’s still too early to say the mets front office I’d doing this or that. It’s not even December yet, they can’t sign players yet.
OTH, if after trying to go after Doc or Lackey, they’d have to look at 2nd tier players
udontmesswthejohan
11/23/2009-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
“Let’s also consider that Bay is far from a .300 hitter and Holliday has not proven he can hit without the help of thin Colorado air.”
I’m not really sure that this is a valid criticism on Holliday anymore. I mean he put up nice numbers in STL, not exactly a hitters park. The problem in Oakland in addition to it being a huge park was that the lineup sucked. He would have more protection with the Mets.
As far as your overall point, i think you hit the nail ont he head with your first listed disadvantage. This team simply can’t afford to sit around and “wait” for next year’s crop of free agents while the Yankees win another WS.
I still believe in the core of this team and I think if some smart decisions are made, they can be back to being contenders next year.
halfmanhalfamazin
11/23/2009-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
I was tough on Holliday your right but the fact is half a decent season in St Loo is not enough of a sample. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong.
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
He put up nice numbers with Pujols for half a season.
His career totals–while his splits gradually improved each year–are dramatically inflated by his time in Denver.
I wouldn’t touch him for the money he is seeking.
Is he a seriously good hitter, or is he Dante Bichette 2.0? The jury is most definitely out, and let the Cards, Yanks, or Red Sox find out.
fongy2
11/23/2009-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Hey!, You stole my thoughts! Dante Bichette is always the
guy that comes to mind when thinking Holliday.
Not only hitting w/Pujols next to him in the line-up but playing under add’l perfect conditions in St.Lou, Close to where he’s from,great fans,
low pressure, great Mgr and Coaches and
in his walk yr,ergo,
playing for MONEY.
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
AGREED!!
udontmesswthejohan
11/23/2009-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Of course hitting around Pujols is going to make anyone look better, but cmon’ guys Dante Bichette. Holliday is a much better player than Bichette ever was.
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Go check out Bichette’s years in Colorado—very similar to Holliday’s. Holliday walked and struck out more, but their power, BA, HR, RBI, runs, etc are VERY similar overall.
And as soon as Bichette left Colorado he was nothing remotely like he had been. And he was nothing like he was in Colorado in his pre-Colorado years.
And check out their splits—eerily similar for some of their Colorado years.
As I said, Holliday’s splits improved in 2008, but before that, he and Bichette’s numbers are a lot closer than you might think.
I agree that Holliday is a better player, but how much better? I guess we will see next year.
fongy2
11/23/2009-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
No doubt Holliday is a better player. Thats not what I’m and I think Brock mean.
Colorado turns a bad player into a passable one,an ordinary player into a good one.A good player into an All-Star,an All-Star player into a great one and a great player into an All-Time player.
Playing there in that altitude
is very much like looking at a player on steroids.Very similar
effects,are far as the numbers are concerned.Mes think Holliday is a very good player BUT not a great player.
And he will rec the kind of contract a great player demands.
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
Completely agree, you wise old sage you!
fongy2
11/23/2009-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you Sir.
If you have a chance,check out Holliday’s Minor league stats.After tearing up rookie ball@18 for six weeks,he spends the next five full seasons(19-23)in the minors,climbing slowly,having to repeat high A-ball,hits 16,7,11,10&12HRs.Hits >264,>274,>275,.276&.253.Drives in 64,72,5264&72 runs.
Now,in all your years how many guys have you seen go from that type of fairly long Minor league career to putting up SuperStar numbers in 2or3 yrs??
I truly fear that with this guy, He signs for 7yrsand125Million and becomes a consistant 25/90/.290 guy who plays an ordinary LF…At best.
Nice player but not worth half that type of contract.
whataputz
11/23/2009-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
This is pointless. I’m pretty sure every single fa or trade candidate has been rumored to come here already. I’m going to reserve my judgment till moves start being made.
metsfan4decades
11/23/2009-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
Exactly.
Not that I don’t enjoy debating opinions/acquisitions/trades, or reading opinion posts at all but….I’ll reserve judgment on any and all until we actually see what direction they’re going in for 2010.
halfmanhalfamazin
11/23/2009-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
That’s kind of the whole point about debate Putz…you debate what you dont know ane voice your opinion
mrbill
11/23/2009-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
Good point
fongy2
11/23/2009-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
Very good job here,half&half.
I too have reservations about this FA
class. While I really like Lackey,hes
certainly not in the class of a Halladay,Johan or CC. Yes,I want him
but not beyond what Lowe got last yr.
Even with that I,m not completely sold. I’m also not a huge fan of
either Bay or Holiday at the cost it’ll take to get them.
This is what I’ve meant when previously stating this lost season
was even worse than most of us feel.
Prime yrs of our core guys wasted and
we learned very little about our top
tier prospects.
I feel it was compounded once we learned Omar and Jerry were returning.
As I’ve also said before,it would have been easier to deal with a yr
of quasi-rebuilding if there were new
guys in charge whos past told us they could actually do it and eventually bring us a winner.
At this point, I’d stick with Murphy,
Santos and Thole, Maine and go easy with signings of these top tier FAs,
this season, keeping options open to trade for guys like Crawford when they
really do become available.
Not to say THAT’S not a gamble as well. Because we don’t know if a Joe Mauer will even get to FA or that
Wally is even a MLB mgr.
But at least we wouldn’t be tied down
to contracts which can’t be moved and
would prevent us from bringing in
a better fit.
Lastly, I’m a lifelong Knick fan and
certainly like the combo of Walsh&D’Antoni over the combo of Thomas&Thomas but I’ll believe they’ll
sign the likes of LeBron,Wade,Bosh and/or Joe Johnson when they actually do. Its just as likely they con’t to clear cap room my moving the few watchable players they have now like
Lee and Robinson only to end up
w/o them AND any of the big name FAs.
Then where are they?
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Hey Fong–
Dolphins-Steelers last week of the season could be for the last playoff spot–if the Steelers are still in it….
PS–I cannot discuss basketball until the Nets get a win….could be a while….
stickguy
11/23/2009-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
I actually like the fact that the FO is keeping a lid on it. THat’s the way they should work. Besides, anything you read or hear now is either pure guesswork (all those writers have to publish (tweet?) something if they want to get paid!), or blatent smoke screen disinformation.
I also am not that enamored by the “cream” of the FA class. Lackey still scares me (combo of his recent arm issues, age/mileage, and not being what you paid for outside of LAA). Holliday probably is the best bet, but not at Boras #s.
I do like the idea of making shorter horizon moves. Beef up everywhere you can, and if the core returns to health and normal productivity, the Mets are as good as any team in the NL (and if they don’t, it doesn’t matter who you bring in).
also, K rod, santana and Beltran are all still in their primes (although Beltran might be getting awful close to th other side!). Reyes and Wright haven’t even reached their peak years yet (27/28), so they should still be going up.
so, enluss it is based on contract length remaining, I don’t agree that they are a “win now” team, which to me means it is this year or never.
as to backman, hard to say if they are auditioning him, but I am pretty comfortable they will need a new manager by 2011, if not sooner. And if they are planning to go younger, I like the idea of bringing up the manager that knows the “kids”, but that right now would be Tueffel (if you project to 2011 prospects lkie Davis).
fongy2
11/23/2009-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Solid post.
I am gettin’ a little nervous however with some of these
“rumors”….
Like Sheets and
Guillen…….
Please, God…
Noooooooooo!
stickguy
11/23/2009-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
guillen is a horrible idea, of the level that derseves the GM to be fired on the spot.
Sheets, however, is a good risk, if they can get him on an injury based deal (1 year plus option, say 3 mill guaranteed in 2010), assuming, of course, they are looking at him as a 5th starter/take a flyer guy.
fongy2
11/23/2009-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks but no thanks on Sheets. Likely won’t be Ben Sheets first yr back from the operation and with his attemped hookwinking of suitors last offseason,showed himself to be a scumbag!
fongy2
11/23/2009-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Its funny ’cause I’d wriiten that off as a
loss figuring we’d be
12-3 and locked into the #1or2 spot in the
AFC AND we’d be playing 2nd stringers.
But NOW,after that disaster of yesterday,
it may very well have alot of meaning.
We unfortunately have
a Mets-like situation
in Stiller-Nation w/
Tomlin and his long time friend,our S.T.
Coach who should be on the unemployment line
TODAY. I’ve never seen
worse Kick and Punt coverage on any level
by any team in 35+yrs.
Theres no excuse for that. None.
Conversely, I don’t think your Dolphins are loaded with talent
but man do I envy you
guys having The Big Tuna running things
there.
Us hard-core Stiller fans are real nervous
despite having a team
full of tough guys and champions b/c the windows closing for alot of them and
our last two drafts have not been good at all. If there ever was a season to repeat,it was this one. Easy schedule, bye-week right in the middle
of the season and Baltimore down b/c of all their loses.
Just goes to show…..
Who knows.
And b/t/w,I still think your Nets are in better shape than my Knicks.
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, the Fins without Ronnie Brown and with Chad Henne at QB being right in it is pretty amazing…5-2 in our last 7; only losses to NE and NO.
And I agree about the Nets/Knicks!
We have many really good young players, at least one lottery pick, and the most money of any team to spend next summer.
Everyone can yell about LeBron and Wade (who might wind up together in Miami) but give me Chris Bosh.
Lopez, Bosh, Harris, and a top lottery pick and the rest of our youngsters and we are on the way next year.
fongy2
11/23/2009-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah my hopes aren’t high for LeBron or even Wade, I’m thinking my Knicks
end up with Joe Johnson and maybe a
Chris Bosh.
trs86
11/23/2009-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
You guys missed me yet?
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
I was just wondering where the heck you were….thought maybe you were traveling to Denver to meet the Nets and be introduced as their new coach….
fongy2
11/23/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Won’t help!
trs86
11/23/2009-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, at least we have won a game.
fongy2
11/23/2009-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
Wasn’t a slight
directed toward you my friend
but the swamp-dwellers.
I don’t Hank Iba
could coach up
this current
bunch of Nets.
This group makes the Darwin Cook/Edgar Jones
group look good!
GravediggerHebner
11/23/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
A team other than the Knicks that took the “sit around and wait til next year” philosophy could be the Yankees. They allegedly had Johan Santana in the bag, but Cashman allegedly chose to hold onto his prospects and his # 1 SP money to wait a year for CC to become a free agent. For a number of reasons which I won’t bother to elaborate on I don’t think the Mets are in the position to do that, to wait for next year’s class and assume the cream of that crop will just sign here.
I am probably mis-reading it, I hope I am and I know you will jump in to point out how I may be, but I get the sense from a lot of my fellow Met fans that a whole bunch of really good available players just somehow aren’t really good enough.
The Mets as currently comprised are flawed I think we all agree. I don’t see how they are in a position to say “oh, Lackey, the cream of the SP crop, just isn’t good enough,” or “Holliday, the cream of the LF crop, yeah he’s good but I just don’t know…” because what I see remaining after that is even less good enough.
I’m not sure quite why many of us are doing so, but it seems as though we’re talking ourselves out of the best available players, waiting for the ‘perfect’ player and holding out some hope (ill-fated IMO) that they will come here at some undetermined future point.
We can sit around and wait for Mauer or Halladay to become free agents and then watch them sign elsewhere, and then what, tell ourselves “well Pujols is a FA in 2012?”
If the Mets try and fail (or don’t even try) to trade for Halladay this year, and he goes elsewhere with a long extension, can we sit back and say “Lackey’s health scares me” only to wait for who, Brandon Webb and his scary health?
The top available guys right now may not meet our sports-wet-dream criteria, but who does, when are they going to be available, and what is the reasonable chance the Mets can and will get them? And what happens in the meantime?
fongy2
11/23/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
You are misreading me on this Heb.
You know me,after all these yrs,I want to WIN NOW!
I like Lackey and Want him But will understand not getting into a crazy bidding war for him.
If given the choice of Holliday or Bay,I prefer Bay. I don’t see a whole lot of diff b/t the two except I think Bay will be a lot cheaper.
I do however, understand if we dont get involved in a bidding war for him
either. I wouldn’t go much beyind the Sox last offer for him.
I also feel that alot of teams will con’t to sell off players as our economy con’ts to crash,and it ain’t turnin’ around anytime soon.
So, I think some very interesting guys will bvecome available.
My point is if by some chance we blow
the budget signing Holliday and Lackey,ehich we know won’t happen,we still need a lot to go the right way,health,guys returning to form,improving,etc.
BEFORE we could think that we’re really playoff/W.S. contenders.
Whats the point of Holliday @7yrs/125mil if we then only add
Jon Garland to the rotation and
return w/Castillo and Murphy on the
right side of the infield?
Are we a legitplayoff team then?
I for one don’t think so.
I’d prefer smaller moves, con’t to
try and find a new home for Castillo
and maybe Ollie while making sure reyes,Beltran & Johan return to form
throughout the spring AND allowing
Murphy,Thole,FMart ABs and Parnell,Niese,Nieve IPs all spring
and maybe into the early part of the season. Then lets see where we are.
fongy2
11/23/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
You are misreading me on this Heb.
You know me,after all these yrs,I want to WIN NOW!
I like Lackey and Want him But will understand not getting into a crazy bidding war for him.
If given the choice of Holliday or Bay,I prefer Bay. I don’t see a whole lot of diff b/t the two except I think Bay will be a lot cheaper.
I do however, understand if we dont get involved in a bidding war for him
either. I wouldn’t go much beyind the Sox last offer for him.
I also feel that alot of teams will con’t to sell off players as our economy con’ts to crash,and it ain’t turnin’ around anytime soon.
So, I think some very interesting guys will bvecome available.
My point is if by some chance we blow
the budget signing Holliday and Lackey,ehich we know won’t happen,we still need a lot to go the right way,health,guys returning to form,improving,etc.
BEFORE we could think that we’re really playoff/W.S. contenders.
Whats the point of Holliday @7yrs/125mil if we then only add
Jon Garland to the rotation and
return w/Castillo and Murphy on the
right side of the infield?
Are we a legitplayoff team then?
I for one don’t think so.
I’d prefer smaller moves, con’t to
try and find a new home for Castillo
and maybe Ollie while making sure reyes,Beltran & Johan return to form
throughout the spring AND allowing
Murphy,Thole,FMart ABs and Parnell,Niese,Nieve IPs all spring
and maybe into the early part of the season. Then lets see where we are.
fongy2
11/23/2009-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
Jeez, I didn’t even think my
point was so good it had to be
posted twice!
DNDJohan aka kistics
11/23/2009-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
I think there’s s divide in Mets FO. Omar comes out and says that they will be very aggressive in the FA/Trade market. But now you hear this crap about getting 2nd tier guys because of limited budget??? WTF??
trs86
11/23/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
Not a divide at all. Just reporters with no story making one.
trs86
11/23/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Ceetar as usual says it much better than me:
it would be a mistake for the Mets to know exactly what they want. They _Should_ be open to everything and considering all options. Things will change, such as prices going up, people resigning, medical reports, etc.
Instead they should know what sort of baseline production improvement they need to both offense and pitching, and be flexible about which guy fits the team and the budget and the pitching coach and New York and etc etc.
stickguy
11/23/2009-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
exactly what I mean when I say they need to go with what the market gives them.
metsfan4decades
11/23/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
I think Grave and Fongy both have some very good points.
This off season is the first one in a long while I can remember where we fans don’t really have any idea what their first couple of moves might be – or at least don’t even have an idea what they think the #1 priority is and what direction they’re heading in. For example, we ALL knew last off season Omar was making that BP and particularly a closer his #1 priority.
I too don’t want to overpay for most available right now. We need pieces, no doubt about it. I haven’t really looked into depth what FA are available end of 2010, or what teams might start looking to get rid of players at the trade deadline this summer of 2010. I would have to think some of that will factor in what moves they make.
Bottom line is I think it’s going to take some kind of creatively to field a contending team this first half of 2010. We need to be in it, and have some $$ left, to make moves we might need by the trade deadline.
This upcoming year can’t possibly be as bad as 2009 – can it?
fongy2
11/23/2009-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
Christ, I hope not!
It is a fork in the road type season though. If everyones healthy we should automatically
be better. If not,adding a 4th
starter and a Holliday or Bay
isn’t gonna matter that much.
Regardless of health though,
whoever Omar and Jerry put out there must compete. Otherwise they have no excuse, I don’t care how many injuries we suffer.
I just watched yesterday an
undermanned(to say the least)
KC Chief team,with an inexperienced,young HeadCoach
who was outgained in yardage almost 3to1, not quit and beat
a veteran Championship team
who knew the importance of the
game because of what was infront of them the rest of the way this season.
The Steelers didn’t come to play and the Chiefs, with very
limited talent and in the mist
of a terrible season came to
play including when they went
down by ten half way through the game.
Sorry….got off on a Steeler
rant. Yesterday was just so ugly and un-Steeler like.
Can’t get it outta my head!
fongy2
11/23/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
I’m curious, with the report of our possible interest in Crazy Jose Guillen, what are your collective thoughts on Castillo&Ollie for
Guillen,Meche&Farnsworth?
trs86
11/23/2009-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
Last I heard they had no plans to trade Meche.
As for Guillen only way I would consider it is if they took Castillo and sent cash as well.
fongy2
11/23/2009-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I’m just wondering. I’d be really nervous adding Guillen and I wonder what would be their
interest in Castillo
since they already have a pretty good young SecondBaseman.
I just don’t understand our interest,if true. Unless as you said ,It meant dumping Luis or even Ollie.
wannybackstra
11/23/2009-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
I’d rather keep Castillo than take Guillen. Meche and Farnsworth aren’t good enough for me to want to take on Guillen, even if it means shedding Ollie.
metsfan4decades
11/23/2009-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
I agree with this.
fongy2
11/23/2009-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
Understood!
Still,I’d think about.
Maybe at this point I’m
graspping at straws.
Waiting on some sort of
move.Getting stir crazy!
stickguy
11/23/2009-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
I’m with Fongy that I want to see some moves start happening, even though I realize it is early.
I hope (as usual) for a lot of interesting wheeling and dealing, but I never seem to get what I want (not sure about what I need though).
No way to Guillen. ANd the only reason I can see KC taking castillo is they are desperate to get rid of GUillen, and know that Castillo will be easier to flip (while eating less oney).
As much as I want to see Luis gone, I want no part of Guillen. Not because I have anything against whackadoodles, I just think he stinks.
wannybackstra
11/23/2009-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
This is stupid. From MLBTR:
Mets Considering Jack Cust?
By Tim Dierkes [November 23 at 11:30am CST]
We have considered A’s DH/outfielder Jack Cust a non-tender candidate for some time. Today, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News writes that Cust is indeed “expected to be traded” before the December 12th non-tender deadline.
Rubin says the Mets are “believed to have considered” acquiring Cust, while Seattle “may be the most likely destination” and the Rangers “may have interest.”
As Rubin says, the cost for Cust figures to be low. For one, the A’s have to trade him if they want to avoid paying him more than $3MM next year after an arbitration raise. Second, DH types are plentiful.
Obviously the Mets would see Cust as a left fielder. Cust played 401.6 innings in right field this year and 585.6 in left last year, and the UZR/150 defensive metric was not kind. Offensively, Cust is known for his propensity to homer, strike out, or walk. His line slipped to .240/.356/.417 in his third full season.
trs86
11/23/2009-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
Which part is stupid? LOL.
fongy2
11/23/2009-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, i saw this earlier.
Didn’t bother commenting b/c
not worth the time.
Happy for Cust to finally ahve a career after yrs in the minors BUT c’mon!
How could this guy help?
Theres no DH is the NL!
To quote Herm Edwards…..
“Hellooo!!”
trs86
11/23/2009-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, unless he could play adequate 1B, I see no point in it.
wannybackstra
11/23/2009-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
The media up and runs with every player a team employee admits to “considering.” Of course, they probably “consider” everyone. The question is how long it took to rule out pursuing such players.
My guess is that the consideration of Cust constituted his name being mentioned briefly as a potential non-tender before the triumverant of Fred Howard, Jeff Howard and Omar Fine summarily rejected the idea.
metsfan4decades
11/23/2009-3:06pm at 3:06 pm (UTC -4)
I think it’s just a slow time here before the winter meetings and MLBTR, along with many other beat writers on their blogs, are posting everything and anything that is ‘believed’ to have been remotely a rumor.
Ted Berg actually had a very good post today on how to break down these posts, and trace it back to the original source, to determine how much of a ‘rumor’ it is.
He says, in part – regarding the Guillen trade rumor:
‘But that’s not what the story says, at all. Pay attention to the language: The Royals have identified the Mets as a potential trade partner. That’s intentionally vague. All that means is someone in the Royals organization hopes the team can pawn Guillen off on the Mets.’
In conclusion he says:
‘All I was aiming to do was expose how speculative and nonsensical so many hot-stove reports are. Pay attention to the way things are worded and trace everything back to its original source and you’ll figure out pretty quickly that about 50 percent of the Internet’s rumored trades start out with one person speculating.’
trs86
11/23/2009-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
Exactly just how the Jays are calling 125 teams again on Halladay. Not that most of them are likely to find a match.
fongy2
11/23/2009-3:23pm at 3:23 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, off-topic but kind of a funny,
Mets-related story.
So, my mother is
getting settled into her new house in
Florida and calls me last week,leaves
a message saying she went to a yard sale at a neighbor’s on her block
and among the stuff for sale were
a couple of Met jerseys.
She starts talking to the home owner
and eventually she says”My son is a die-hard Met fan since he was a little boy”. The homeowner replies, HER SON…..
PLAYED for The Mets. She brings my Mom
into their home where “the former Met”
is sitting at a kitchen counter eating
lunch. They’re introduced and again
my Mom states “my son’s been a Met fan
all his life”. The “former Met”then
offers to get a couple of his baseball cards to sign, to give to me.
My Mother is obviously grateful,goes
back out to the yard-sale and later
calls me,leaving this message. She ends the message saying, “his name is Wayne…….something”.
Okay, so I’m thinking, cool she must have meet Wayne Garrett and jeez his
mother really must be old!
I jog my memory but can’t think of any
other Wayne off hand who played for us.
I couldn’t call her until the next day
and when I did, she tells me”the young
man’s name is Wayne Lydon”……….
What?!…Who?!…..Yeah, I’m thinking
the same thing you guys reading this
…..Who the hell is Wayne Lydon??
And when was he a Met???
So, I look it up and apparently, he
was a fringe prospect, who after not
advancing past AA, was cut and is now
in the Blue Jays system,still active.
At least I now have 3 signed baseball
cards of Wayne Lydon to add to my Mets
collection!
May be worth something one day, if he
becomes a serial killer……or something.
wannybackstra
11/23/2009-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
LOL.
Wayne Garrett would have been much cooler!
I remember Lydon as a speedy singles hitter in the Mets system. Not sure what derailed his career.
fongy2
11/23/2009-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
I must admit, I didn’t
remember him at all.
Googling his name,
looking at scouting reports and his stats
he sounds like…..
Jason Tyner, Light.
……..Very Light!
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-4:29pm at 4:29 pm (UTC -4)
HAHA! Great story!
And wow on remembering Darwin Cook and Edgar Jones! Takes me back to games with my Dad in the early 80s….Darwin Cook was actually a pretty good backup.
stickguy
11/23/2009-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
lets see, big names or 2nd tier?
and we do have to consider that amkeing a big back-page splash isn’t the ultimate goal of the off season, it is to add pieces to make the team comeptitive, and of course, stay within budget!
Ca
My new prediction (assuming, for now, they stay out of the 9 figure and/or 6 year deal FA pool) Cammeron, wolf, myers, lopez barajas, and a RH 1B/OF rotation guy with some pop.
also assuming they are bunkering down this year to try and compete while protecting the farm 1 more year to let them develop.
Of course, I also (since this is my fantasy!) traded Castillo.
Every one imported was either a FA, or just came for little return (swap of spare parts).
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
I like it Stick.
If we wind up with all of this: “Cammeron, wolf, myers, lopez barajas, and a RH 1B/OF rotation guy with some pop.”
I think we will have enough to be very competitive as long as the injury brigade all returns healthy.
And I must say again that I thought that The Legend of Gritty McHudson may be the single funniest thing I have ever seen on here.
stickguy
11/23/2009-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
yes, it was truly Omarlicious.
wannybackstra
11/23/2009-6:38pm at 6:38 pm (UTC -4)
No thank you. From MLBTR:
Mets Call On Russell Branyan
By Tim Dierkes [November 23 at 4:51pm CST]
The Mets have called to inquire on free agent Russell Branyan, tweets Yahoo’s Tim Brown. Branyan was the subject of a November 2nd discussion post here at MLBTR, where it was noted that the first baseman was productive only for the season’s first three months perhaps due to a back injury. At the time, interest in a Mariners reunion was mutual, with readers finding a $3-5MM base salary to be reasonable.
On-base machine Nick Johnson could be another option for the Mets at first base; his discussion post can be found here. Johnson’s agent Rex Gary told ESPN’s Jayson Stark today that more than six teams have expressed interest in his client. Stark wonders if the Giants, Mets, Mariners, Orioles, Nationals, and Red Sox are among them.
Kingman 26
11/23/2009-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
NO on Branyan; damn, if that is how they want to go, re-sign Delgado.
Nick J would be OK with me though; maybe Murph goes in a trade to FL or TOR or somewhere?